The voice continued. “Yea, the signs tell us that we shouldn’t eat for twenty four hours, but I reckon no-one here would have the guts to board this heap of junk without a good linin’ of booze in their gut.”

A glugging noise indicated that the speaker hadn’t left the forbidden booze behind. A hip flask, held in an incongruously slender hand, was passed through the seats. “You gents want a shot?”

At that time, the warning lights pulsed red three times.

“Drink quick like, we’ve only got 30 seconds left on this rock.”